Job Title: Senior National Employment Relations Officer
Salary Range: £50,000 - £55,000
Closing date for applications: 5 January 2026
Interview date: Friday 23 January 2026
Start date: when available
About Us:
We are the British Dietetic Association (BDA). We are an award-winning not-for-profit Trade Union, based in Birmingham, employing dedicated, dynamic and professional staff who deliver services for our membership of more than 12,400 dietetic professionals.
Founded in 1936, we are one of the oldest and most experienced dietetic organisations in the world.
We represent the whole of the dietetic workforce - practitioners, researchers, educators, support workers and students.
The BDA seeks to ensure the fair and equal treatment of all members, including fair representation and access to services and participation. We also promote the equality of opportunity for the dietetic profession, and work to remove barriers to career progression.
Please view our website (www.bda.uk.com) for more details about our organisation and our Trade Union.
Employment Benefits
* Pension Scheme (employer 12% contribution)
* Flexible Working Policy
* THRIVE Accreditation Staff Well being Group
* Parental Leave arrangements
* ‘Cash Back’ Healthcare and Healthcare Scheme
* All positions subject to 6 months probationary period, statutory sick pay during this period
* Sickness Benefits – after successful probationary period
* Trade Union Recognition- GMB
* 30 days Holidays per annum (1 to be taken last working day before Christmas and 3 to be taken between Christmas and New Year, this is for full time, will be pro-rata’d for part time employee)
* Staff Development opportunities
About the Role:
The British Dietetic Association are recruiting for a Senior National Employment Relations Officer. This is an exciting, dynamic role which will involve detailed understanding of employment law, case work and complex case work. Some understanding of the four nations and their differing legislation would be helpful as you may be called upon to oversee or support cases outside of England (in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
Senior National Employment Relations Officer will report to the Director of Trade Union and Employment Relations.
The role holder must be committed to the ethos of the Trade Union movement and to representing members. They will also be expected to protect the integrity and good standing of the profession and the BDA at all times, and to uphold the Association's values.
This full-time role is hybrid, with a minimum of two days a week in the Birmingham office. There will be some travel to events within the four nations to represent and protect our dietetic members in employment and related matters.
The role holder also supports the Director of Trade Union and Employment Relations in the development and implementation of employment relations strategy, policy and operational processes.
About you:
To be shortlisted for this role you will need to have worked in a Trade Union role (or affiliate) for at least 3 years. You will likely have a degree and a high level of understanding of employment law, which will be required day- to- day. You will have experience of managing and prioritising a number of cases at the same time and have a good working knowledge of NHS practices.
As a person, you will be passionate about supporting the rights of workers and you will be compassionate, confidential and solutions focused.
You will need to be a great communicator, able to reassure and advise members and be able to demonstrate the ability to make complex judgements to resolve issues for our members.
An understanding of dietetics will be advantageous and you will be an excellent listener and able to deal with high volumes (from time to time) of cases calmly.
Our offices are based in central of Birmingham, where you will be required to work 2 days a week, so willingness to travel into Birmingham and manage a team based on site is essential.
To Apply:
Please apply to j.otoole@bda.uk.com with a *covering letter (*please note that applications without a covering letter will not be shortlisted)
For further details of the role please download the full job description from the BDA website (search ‘british dietetic association’ ‘Senior National Employment Relations Officer”)
Applications must be received by the end of Monday 5 January 2026.
Interviews will be in person on Friday 23 January 2026 at our Birmingham office (B3 2TA). Please ensure that you are available to travel on this date.